From Apple II and Socket A (PCGH Retro, June 05)

…1977: The computer for everyone is still a dream up to this point – if you want to afford such a device, you usually have to solder it yourself from kits. On the other hand, the computer that goes on sale on June 5th is really suitable for the masses: the Apple II, which soon becomes one of the most successful home computers of all, explains the rise of the Apple company and is regarded as a model for the IBM PC. However, the Apple II was presented back in April – so you can find out more here.

…2000: AMD’s Athlon processor is a complete success and at least on par with Intel’s Pentium processors; AMD even won the race for the first x86 gigahertz processor. But the success story of the K7 goes even further, because this June 5th, AMD is presenting a new Athlon generation: the Thunderbird, which is initially available with 650 to 1,000 MHz. The biggest innovation of this processor is its pedestal: Thunderbird processors not only sit in the bulky Slot A housing, they are also available with pins for the new, compact Socket A. AMD, like Intel, is making the switch from slot back to socket -Design that will remain relevant for years to come. This step was made possible with the integration of the L2 cache directly on the chip, which previously required the expansive slot board. Socket A is a resounding success and one of the longest-lived platforms in PC history. There is more information on this topic in our retro special AMD Athlon Thunderbird.